Explore the Counties of
Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway
Three Illinois counties make up the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area. Madison, Jersey, and Calhoun Counties offer a diverse array of attractions, events, and activities. Each county offers visitors a chance to experience its own unique features will retaining the overall character of the region.
The Piasa Bird in Alton, IL
MADISON COUNTY
Madison County anchors the southern section of the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway. Features include Lewis and Clark’s winter of 1803-04 headquarters, the remains of a prehistoric Native American civilization at Cahokia Mounds, the new National Rivers Museum, and the Vadalabene Bike Trail. greatriverroad.com’s coverage includes the communities of Alton, Bethalto, Collinsville, East Alton, Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Godfrey, Granite City, Hartford, and Wood River.
The TreeHouse Wildlife Center in Dow, IL
JERSEY COUNTY
Jersey County anchors the northern section of the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area. Features include Pere Marquette State Park, the real river towns of Grafton and Elsah, the Vadalabene Bike Trail, and events like the Jersey County Victorian Festival. greatriverroad.com’s coverage includes the communities of Brighton, Elsah, Grafton, Jerseyville, and Otterville.
The Brussels Free Ferry
CALHOUN COUNTY
Calhoun County’s rural character is owed in large part by the fact that it as almost completely surrounded by water. Features include four river ferries, the quaint town of Brussels, the Two Rivers Wildlife Refuge, and the McCully Heritage Project. greatriverroad.com’s coverage includes the communities of Batchtown, Brussels, Golden Eagle, Hardin, and Kampsville.
